Sunday, 29 May 2016

"In the early months of 1873, the Chinese Federation continued their annexation of the South China Sea and began to look further afield - if they could put the pressure on their enemies in the Timor Sea, Indian Ocean and Pacific, they could stifle any attempts at counter-attack before it began. One of their first actions targeted the coast of Western Australia - Britannian territory.

The response of the Australian fleet was swift - the Seventh Battle Group had recently been patrolling the area, and moved quickly to intercept. Reinforced with additional support aircraft and escorting a bulky Titan-class Troop Transport, the hoped they could turn aside the Chinese aggressors before they came within range to bombard Australian territory.

They met the enemy fleet near the headland of the Dampier Peninsula, emerging from the rocks to engage at close range. This bold attack would surely cost them dearly, but it was hoped the power of Britannian gunnery would smash them aside quickly..."

Thursday, 19 May 2016

"The walls of Bremerhaven lay in ruin, and the full force of the White Banner Northern Fleet descended into Prussian waters. Enraged by the maddening search for the Markgraf and the losses they had suffered, the Russian Admiralty committed the full weight of their North Sea assets into the attack - the twin kingships of Monarkh Squadron and the immense Petrushka. Against them stood Baron Karl-Ehrhart Grunner and the Markgraf, his own flagship Grendel and the Sachsen, recovered from Greenland as the winter ice thawed. The Teutonic Order also committed their grand Hochmeister-class Dreadnought-Robot Carolus Rex, only recently repaired and refitted following battle at Midbrødøya. Such a commitment of tonnage and ordnance was unheard of, and grossly foolhardy - truly, two of the Great Nations of the world had been driven insane by their mutual antagonism, and their folly would see the deaths of thousands upon thousands of men. In the hunt for one vessel, the Russian Coalition had sacrificed entire fleets, and in their pride the Prussian Empire had crippled their North Sea operations - and impacted those beyond it. Here, at the walls of Bremerhaven, there would be a reckoning - not just for the Markgraf, but for the entire World War..."

Friday, 6 May 2016

"The attack upon Bremerhaven was launched at the beginning of summer, as the waters of the bitter North Sea began to warm and the Russian fleets held in the ice of the Kara and Berents Sea could begin to head south. The Petrushka was with them, and none could stand before its wrath as the incredible power of the Sturginium-powered Bombard was unleashed upon the defences of the port.

The Curtain Wall - first line of defence for Bremerhaven but weak in the face of concentrated Russian bombardment - was sundered in mere hours. The attack continued, driving great rents in the structure that would allow an entire fleet to sail through and into range of the city itself.

The Prussian retaliation was swift - even as the Bombardment Group prepared to withdraw to allow the next wave of Russian ships to attack, their interceptors leapt upon them. Leading elements of the 76th Iron Fleet, lead by the rugged SMS Kronprinz and the belligerent SMS Hetzer II would catch them before the walls.

Whether they had the firepower to deal with the Petrushka was another question entirely..."